About This Print

One of 200 prints issued as part of the series Nōga taikan (Encyclopedia of Noh Plays), it depicts a scene in the first act of the play Eboshi-ori by the playwright Miyamasu (1482-1556) in which a hatmaker presents the young Ushiwaka with a special headgear to change his appearance.

The Play - Eboshi-ori (The Hatmaker)

Source: A Guide to No, P.G. O'Neill, Hinoki Shoten, 1929, p. 24-25.

During the period of Taira ascendancy the young Ushiwaka (later known as Minamoto Yoshitsune) meets the Sanjō brothers and travels with them to the post-town of Kagami.  There, being warned by a messenger that he is in danger, he changes his appearance by adopting the headgear worn after coming of age.  This he obtains from a hatmaker in the place who is sympathetic to this cause.  In exchange he gives him his sword but the hatmaker insists on returning it to him.  He then travels on with his companions to the town of Akasaka where they seek a night's lodging.  There they are attacked by a band of robbers led by Kumasaka no Chōhan, but they put them to flight and Chōhan himself is killed by Ushiwaka.

Print Details

IHL Catalog	#338
Title	Eboshi-ori (first act)
Series	Nōga taikan 能画大鑑 (Encyclopedia of Noh Plays or A Great Mirror of Noh Pictures or A Great Collection of Noh Pictures)
Artist	Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869-1927)
Signature	Kōgyo
Seal	Kōgyo seak
Date	1925-1930
Edition	unknown
Publisher	Seibi Shoten (or Seibi Shoin), Tokyo
Carver	Uchida Eikichi
Printer	Yoshida Takesaburō
Impression	excellent
Colors	excellent
Condition	good - several spots of foxing; full-size; not backed
Genre	ukiyo-e
Miscellaneous
Format	oban yoko-e
H x W Paper	10 x 14 1/2 in. (25.4 x 36.8 cm)
Collections This Print
Reference Literature